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History

Homewood enjoys a rich history, marked by more than 85 years of important events, improvements, expansion and growth.

1920's

1929

George C. Pearson leaves a bequest of $100,000 in his will to the Potomac Synod of the Reformed Church to establish an "old folks home." Mr. Pearson was an elder in Christ Reformed Church in Cavetown, MD.

1930's

1930

A charter is issued for the "Old Folks' Home of the Potomac synod of the Reformed Church in the United States."

1932

The first residents move into a home at 1805 Virginia Avenue in Hagerstown. The home serves 12 residents and is known as "Homewood."

1937

The Rev. Walter R. Hartzell is named Homewood's first superintendent. Before his hiring, the Rev. Scott R. Wagner, pastor at Zion Reformed Church in Hagerstown and president of Homewood's Board of Trustees, took an active role in management.

1950's

1950

The Rev. Mark G. Wagner is hired as the home's second superintendent. He is charged with the task of building a new, modern facility in the Hagerstown area.

1951

The new home, with accommodations for 58 residents opens in Williamsport, MD. Also at this time, the corporation is renamed "Homewood Church Homes."

1953

A downtown hotel in Hanover, PA. is purchased as the third Homewood facility. It houses 88 residents. In six years, Homewood grows from serving 10 residents at one site to serving 182 residents at three sites in two states. Later renovations and additions add a 16-bed infirmary in Hanover in 1963.

1960's

1965

The Rev. Roderick J. Wagner joins his father at Homewood and becomes the Executive Director.

1970's

1971

A second wing is added at Williamsport to accommodate an additional 70 residents.

1973

The corporation is renamed "Homewood Retirement Centers of the United Church of Christ." Upon the retirement of the Rev. Mark Wagner, the Rev. Roderick Wagner becomes president of Homewood.

1974

A major expansion occurs with the construction of two new, modern nursing homes. A 72-bed facility replaces the old mansion in Carlisle and a 67-bed facility is built in Martinsburg, PA. These facilities increase Homewood capacity to 370 residents.

1975

1979

A dedication service is held to officially open the Frederick facility. It is the largest Homewood facility providing care for 160 residents.

1980's

1981

The Williamsport facility opens its first independent living cottages. Today Homewood has 241 cottages and apartments in this first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

1990's

1990

Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover becomes the corporation's second CCRC with the construction of 100 independent living units, 60 assisted living and 120 nursing care beds, including a specialized dementia unit.

1992

Homewood opens its new corporate complex in Williamsport. The complex includes three new programs: Choo-Choo Child Care, Down Home Adult Day Care and At-Home Services. At-Home Services eventually relocates to the Virginia Avenue site.

Construction begins to expand the Martinsburg, PA nursing facility into a third CCRC. The facility now includes cottages, apartments and a special care unit for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias.

1993

Lin Yoder joins the Homewood team as Vice President of Human Resources.

1995

Homewood purchases the Susan B. Miller Nursing Home in Woodstock, VA.

1996

A corporate restructuring is completed to accommodate continuing growth, establishing Homewood Retirement Centers as the parent with seven subsidiary corporations.

Homewood announces plans to build its fourth community in Frederick, MD., on 27 acres of land donated by the Judge John M. Crum Family.

1997

The Rev. Roderick Wagner retires as president and CEO of Homewood Retirement Centers. Ernest W. Angell is named as his successor.

Ground is broken for Homewood at Crumland Farms. A capital campaign is launched with a goal of raising $500,000. By the end of the campaign, more than $900,000 is raised for the project.

1998

Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover, PA announces $4.5 million expansion plans to build a chapel, physical therapy space and 34 assisted living apartments. The project will open in 2000. Plum Creek also announces a $1 million fund-raising campaign for the project called "Furnish the Future."

1999

George McCullough joins the Homewood team as Vice President of Finance.

2000's

2000

Homewood at Crumland Farms opens and is officially dedicated April 30. It replaces the downtown Frederick location.

Homewood at Williamsport institutes the award-winning "5-Star Personal Achievement Program." The program is also adopted at Homewood at Crumland Farms.

2001

Homewood at Plum Creek welcomes the first independent-living residents on a campus expansion that will add 200 cottages and apartments, along with a community center, over the next 5 years.

Cottage expansion at Homewood at Martinsburg brings the total to 39 cottages on the campus.

2002

Homewood Retirement Centers celebrates its 70th Anniversary. Special observances were held, along with a year-long look at Homewood's past in The Fireside magazine.

Construction of Phase II cottages at Homewood at Crumland Farms adds 42 units to the community.

2003

Ground is broken for a new $13.5 million community center at Homewood at Plum Creek. The center will house several dining options, fitness center with indoor swimming pool, activity rooms, computer center and pharmacy, as well as 32 independent living luxury apartments.

Ground is broken for an addition 30 assisted living suites at Homewood at Crumland Farms. An additional 100 acres of land is purchased for future expansion of this community.

2004

A major kitchen expansion and renovation is completed at Homewood at Williamsport.

Ground is broken for a community / wellness center and apartment complex at Homewood at Martinsburg. The $8 million project will also add 30 apartments.

Homewood completes a merger with Springvale Terrace in Silver Spring, MD. The merger brings a new dimension to Homewood's continuum of care with the addition of the low-income, HUD facility.

2006

Homewood completes renovations to historic “White House” at Springvale Terrace and leases the space to a local theater group.

2007

Homewood's 75th year is celebrated with special observances and events.

Ground is broken for a new Health Care Center at Homewood at Williamsport.

Homewood's 6th community is Homewood at Spring House Estates in rural Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

2008

Land is purchased for Homewood at the Shenandoah Valley, in Strasburg, Virginia.

A community center/apartment complex project is begun at Homewood at Spring House Estates to augment the expanding cottage community.

2009

Williamsport Health Care Center completed.

Spring House Estates Community Center completed.

Shenandoah Valley cottage construction started.

Transfer of Springvale Terrace.

2010

The first residents move in at Homewood at the Shenandoah Valley

2011

Williamsport community center is renovated to include a chapel

2012

Homewood celebrates its 80th anniversary with events at each Homewood community.

The 35 Woodlands Apartments (Independent Living) open in the completely renovated 1950's era Health Care Center at Homewood at Williamsport.

Ground is broken on Homewood's first 55+ active adult community - Homewood at Willow Ponds - across the road from Homewood at Crumland Farms.

2013

Apartment expansion at Spring House Estates includes an indoor pool.

Patio home construction begins at Willow Ponds and the first residents move in late in the year.

Homewood ceases operations at Homewood at the Shenandoah Valley and continues to seek a buyer for the property.

2014

Patio Home sales at Willow Ponds is brisk. Homewood announces construction of The Lodge to add luxury apartments as well as community center amenities at the Willow Ponds site.

Two new vice presidents join the Senior Management Team replacing the retiring John Warren and Conrad Peachey. Tom Riford comes on board as vice president of funds development and Candace McMullen begins her tenure as vice president of operations.

2016

The Lodge opens at Homewood at Frederick’s Willow Ponds adding 85 apartment homes to the campus as well as dining venues, a fitness center and indoor pool, small meeting rooms, and a large multipurpose room.

Homewood at Spring House Estates dedicates its Honor Park.

The Bice Chapel/Givler Cultural Center at Homewood at Martinsburg opens and hosts the Altoona Symphony Orchestra for a well-received concert.

2017

J.D. Shuman joins the Senior Management Team as president of the Homewood Foundation.

Inspired by the Altoona Symphony performance at Homewood at Martinsburg, Homewood CEO Ernie Angell creates RLEEF (Resident Life Enrichment Endowment Fund) with a goal of raising $5 million to fund special programs, events and outings to benefit all Homewood residents.

2018

Construction begins on a much anticipated assisted living unit for Homewood at Spring House Estates.

Homewood President and CEO Ernest W. Angell announces he will retire in March 2019. The Homewood Board of Trustees announces Thad Rothrock will become the next president and CEO.

George McCullough, vice president of finance, announces his plans to retire in the first quarter of 2019. Controller Wendy Crampton is promoted to fill the vice president position.